One of the best things about travelling overseas is being able to take part in other countries festivities. It can be a real authentic experience where you get to really be part of something, amongst the people and what they are about.

My sister and I have been fortunate to be part of several celebrations around the world. We specifically chose these certain times planning to visit the countries during the festival so we could be involved. This include;

• Thingyan Festival in Myanmar. It is their water festival. My sister and best friend were there in 2016. They celebrate by having a four to five day long water fight. There is hoses, water guns, buckets full of water, and people on the back of their trucks spraying others as they drive up and down the street with music blaring. The people of Myanmar put water over your shoulder and wish you luck for the year. There is water is everywhere. Be prepared to get soaked. Put in earplugs and don’t wear sunglasses as you will loose them. Thailand has their version too, called Songkran at the same time as it is a Buddhist festival as they welcome in their new year.

• La Tomatina Festival in Bunol, Spain is usually held in August each year for a bit of fun. My sister and I went in 2017. It is absolute craziness. We stayed in Madrid then caught the bus before dawn with the other bus loads of tourists. Tomatoes are thrown, expect to get squashed and get real close with the people around you. Everyone stands on the road so when the trucks come along with people throwing the tomatoes out, they must squeeze the the sides. Potential of getting crushed is high. Guys peeing in the tomatoes from drinking too much then people pick up the tomatoes, so gross!

• Naadam Festival in Mongolia takes place in July each year over three days in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar. My sister and I went in 2018. It is a very polluted city and you must watch for the pick pocketers but the festival itself is so much fun. There is horse racing, wrestling, archery, the ankle bone shooting which is like a game of knuckles. It is great to be a spectator as it really brings a huge crowd to the events. We attended the Opening Ceremony and sat under our umbrellas in the pouring rain for the duration but the rain did not deter anyone.

• International Yoga Festival in Rishikesh, India is held over a week in early February each year at a huge ashram. There are many activities you can choose from to participate, running non stop from early morning to late at night. We met so many incredible yogis from all over the world and made life long friendships.

• Holi, in India. We took part in this as part of the yoga festival. Be prepared for lots of singing and dancing and to get covered in coloured chalk, then soaked with water. Good time to act young again and just embrace the silliness of it.

• Eid in Morocco is held a month after Ramadan. It is a very special time of the year for people of the Islamic religion. I remember being in Tangier in 2012 and seeing sheep being slaughtered and sacrificed on the street. Other than that the streets were empty, everything was closed and all families were at home together.

• Oktoberfest in Germany is a two week long folk festival. Lots of drinking, dancing and dressing up. Lots of fun and spirits are high.

Festivals I can’t wait to go to one day;

• Yi Peng and Loy Krathong Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Celebrated in November as an occasion to bring new beginnings.

• Rio Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil which starts the Friday before Ash Wednesday (marking the forty-day period of Lent before Easter in the Roman Catholic Church) and continues for five days. It involves a huge street party, parades and performances.

• Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland occurs over three weeks in August. Performances of all types; cabaret, comedy, opera…

• Boryeong Mud Festival is an annual festival which takes place during the summer month of July in Boryeong, a town around 200 km south of Seoul, South Korea. The first Mud Festival was staged in 1998 and involves markets selling cosmetics made using the mud from Boryeong. Various health and beauty clinics offer massages, acupuncture and other treatments utilising the medicinal qualities of the mud. The festival is closed with a large firework display.

Have you been to any great festivals around the world? We would love to hear about your experience. Feel free to leave a comment below.